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Perfect Leo Season Sunflower Lemon Cake Recipe with Gold Shimmer Buttercream

leo season sunflower lemon cake - featured image
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A bright and bold lemon cake with a moist texture, topped with a silky gold shimmer buttercream and decorated with sunflower petals, perfect for celebrating Leo season or any sunny occasion.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups (315g) all-purpose flour, sifted
  • 2 ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 ¾ cups (350g) granulated sugar
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon zest (about 2 lemons)
  • 1 cup (240ml) buttermilk, room temperature (or 1 cup milk + 1 tbsp lemon juice, let sit 5 minutes)
  • ¼ cup (60ml) fresh lemon juice
  • For the Gold Shimmer Buttercream:
  • 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 cups (480g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp heavy cream or milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • Edible gold shimmer dust
  • For Decoration:
  • Sunflower petals or edible sunflower decorations
  • Optional: A few lemon slices for garnish

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease two 8-inch round cake pans and line bottoms with parchment paper, then grease the paper.
  2. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  3. In a large bowl, beat softened butter and granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes.
  4. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in lemon zest.
  5. Reduce mixer speed to low. Alternate adding dry ingredients and buttermilk, starting and ending with dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
  6. Fold in fresh lemon juice gently with a rubber spatula.
  7. Divide batter evenly between pans. Tap pans to release air bubbles.
  8. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  9. Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.
  10. For buttercream, beat softened butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar on low speed.
  11. Add lemon juice, heavy cream, and vanilla extract. Beat on high until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes.
  12. Fold in edible gold shimmer dust to desired sparkle.
  13. Place one cake layer on serving plate. Spread buttercream evenly on top. Add second layer and frost entire cake.
  14. Decorate with sunflower petals and optional lemon slices. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Notes

Use room temperature ingredients for best results. Do not overmix batter to keep cake tender. Zest only the yellow part of lemons to avoid bitterness. If buttercream is too soft, chill for 10 minutes before frosting. Lining pans with parchment paper prevents sticking. Edible gold dust can be adjusted to desired sparkle. Buttercream consistency can be adjusted with milk or powdered sugar.

Nutrition

Keywords: lemon cake, sunflower cake, gold shimmer buttercream, Leo season cake, lemon dessert, easy lemon cake, summer cake, festive cake

Find it online: https://spoonluma.com/perfect-leo-season-sunflower-lemon-cake-recipe-with-gold-shimmer-buttercream-easy-step-by-step-guide/